Gators didn’t give the game to Georgia — Dawgs took it
Aaron Murray made some clutch runs. (Jason Getz / AJC)
A few more thoughts about Saturday’s Georgia victory over Florida. …
My wife and I dropped by a Halloween party late Saturday, and one of my neighbors asked if I thought Georgia deserved to win, pointing to the points the Dawgs got as a result of Florida turnovers in their own territory — as if the Gators giftwrapped the game.
To the contrary, those Florida turnovers were anything but unforced. The first fumble by Chris Rainey, recovered by Bacarri Rambo, was caused by the returning Alec Ogletree (who bounced back nicely from a rusty start early in the game). And Frankie Hammond’s fumble, recovered by Shawn Williams, was forced by Jarvis Jones, who had a career day against the Gators.
Yes, the Dogs most certainly deserved their hard-fought win. …
(Speaking of Jones, he’s one of the nominees in ESPN’s Capitol One Cup Impact Performance of the Week vote. You can vote for him here.)
One of the more impressive aspects of Georgia’s win in Jacksonville was that it was in spite of several key players having off days. Aaron Murray missed nine consecutive passes at one point, and some of them weren’t even close. At times, he looked like he was on a completely different page of the playbook from the receiver. Blair Walsh continued his meltdown (though, frankly, I think that might have ended up working in the Dogs’ favor by prompting Mark Richt to be a bit bolder in the red zone, telling Mike Bobo to operate under the assumption that he had four downs to work with). Isaiah Crowell was sporadically effective but again ended up spending more time on the sideline than should be the case with any starting tailback. And the normally reliable Drew Butler had his worst day ever punting.
Had those folks played up to par and had Georgia’s special teams not been abysmal, the game wouldn’t have been nearly as close. …
On the other hand, give credit to Murray for making some clutch runs and throwing some nice balls, too, particularly on the two fourth-down touchdowns — though credit is also due to receivers Michael Bennett and Tavarres King for going up and taking the ball a la A.J. Green, despite being closely covered. Murray had a couple of passes dropped, too. …
I praised Bobo in Saturday night’s report for some gutsy calls, and overall I thought he called a good game. There were a few times when great play calls were undone by Murray’s inaccuracy. But there were several times in the third quarter when Bobo again fell into trying to run diminutive Carlton Thomas up the middle, a low-percentage play against just about any SEC defense. And while Richard Samuel came through big-time for the Dogs when he got the call to go up the middle, I wish Bobo would give up on trying to use Samuel on the toss sweep. It nearly always results in a loss of yardage. That’s just not Samuel’s game. …
From the silly is-he-or-isn’t-he-going-to-start pregame warmup business with John Brantley to the trading of timeouts as Florida tried in vain to draw Georgia offsides on a third-down play in the fourth quarter, Will Muschamp’s attempts at mind games were unsuccessful. Speaking of the third-down defense, Georgia’s turnaround from last year in that aspect of the game this season has been spectacular. …
And, lastly, didn’t it feel great to see Georgia finally be able to get a couple of first downs when it needed to kill the clock to preserve a win?
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789 comments Add your comment
Honky Talkin
October 31st, 2011
9:12 am
WOW!! None of the teams Georgia has beaten this year have a winning record. Dawg fans need to lower their expectations….GA is irrelevent in the SEC.
djdawg
October 31st, 2011
9:14 am
I just dont know. Walsh has the leg to kick it out of the endzone. Is he being instructed not to???
beanster
October 31st, 2011
9:15 am
Is it possible that Bogotay could be redshirted this year since it doesn’t appear that there’s anyone waiting in the wings to take over for Walsh next year?
AltamahaDawg
October 31st, 2011
9:15 am
With the exception of about 15 times a year on average, you mean.
doggoneit
October 31st, 2011
9:15 am
Reality Check- The coaches polls know more about football than you ever will. As Long as you have Charley Weiss Georgia will always sleep well and crush you like the tin can you are!
JaxDawg05
October 31st, 2011
9:18 am
Why did beast of the east change his name on here to Reality Check? Weird………
Joey
October 31st, 2011
9:19 am
WOW!! I bet we could beat Virginia . . .
We’ll be in Atlanta soon enough, wo we’ll find out who’s real and who’s not.
Pago Pago Dawg
October 31st, 2011
9:21 am
There are a few MAC teams that Crowell would be 2nd or 3rd team. Has UGA caught the coach who recruited him?
AltamahaDawg
October 31st, 2011
9:22 am
I realize that it’s good fodder for the discussion that Richt only went for it “because” of Walsh, but he is quoted as saying it was really just the score that dictated that, and watching the game, that is exactly right.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 31st, 2011
9:22 am
Good to see us beat FL
But we played sloppy enough again to lose this
Thankfully FL played like we have almost every game the last 22 yrs
Dawg_Mike
October 31st, 2011
9:24 am
I was in the stands screaming for us to just kick it out of bounds on purpose in the second half.
The way our D was playing thats all we needed.
Alt- you may be right aboout Bogotay. Why is it we have never seen him ?
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 31st, 2011
9:24 am
And had Walsh been kicking good
Richt would not have gone for it
Richt couldnt even go for it against UCF with an inch to go; in a meaningless bowl game
Paul
October 31st, 2011
9:24 am
UF is a bad team but you dogs go ahead and run that mouth. Alabama took the heart from the Gators and LSU finished what was left. AU and UGA get a win vs a weak and beaten program. It is amazing that a program like UF can’t recruit one running back other than those two weakazz smurfs they use. Rainey is a coward and has cost UF much more than he ever added to the program. Once UGA was able to get ahead then your true colors and class came to the top. Your sideline was talking the trash but that is all you know under Richt and he allows the thugs to rule. Pitiful program with no discipline and the sad part is you don’t want it discipline otherwise you couldn’t recruit the thugs Richt and Garner recruit each year. Look at your roster management for the past 5 years and argue the fact Richt has no clue how to run a program. So enjoy your record since you have played nobody but you will in the SECCG and the truth will be seen by all!
DawginLex
October 31st, 2011
9:26 am
Really honky talkin?
I guess that is why if we win out and Sc loses to Arkansas, we will be in the SEc title game.
Irrelevant?
Dream on hater boy
DawginLex
October 31st, 2011
9:27 am
Down as much as we were, Richt would have gone for it regardless of the kicking situation
sknfan
October 31st, 2011
9:27 am
Yes you beat UF, but stop acting like GA beat a good team. Each year GA hopes to have a winning record while UF, Bama and LSU EXPECT to and be in the running for a national championship
Alabama Dog
October 31st, 2011
9:28 am
GAME BALL: Blair Walsh. Without his inconsistent field goal attempts, Georgia probably does NOT go for it on the 2 4th downs plays (both resulting in TDs) that were probably the difference in the game’s outcome. don’t misunderstand me, I like Walsh, but this year we ALL hold our collective breath everytime the Dawgs line up for a field goal try. Now let’s get to the point that almost cost Georgia the game: KICKOFF COVERAGE. That was without a doubt the WORST display of kickoff coverage in the HISTORY of CFB!!!!! If I were Georgia’s coach, those guys on the kickoff team would have been running stadium steps ’til they were HALF DEAD!!!!! I’m 53 years old, and I don’t honestly believe they could tackle me!!!!!
Phil
October 31st, 2011
9:28 am
“Richt couldnt even go for it against UCF with an inch to go; in a meaningless bowl game
Exactly my point. He went for it on 4th down because Walsh made him go for it. Walsh is a liability at this point, not an asset.
Return to Glory
October 31st, 2011
9:32 am
UGLY WIN but very Sweet.
Defense: A+:played like we have wanted and needed for several years now.
Offense: C+ : run game solid, passing game big plays in red zone. Murray needs to hit open recievers, more consistant play needed. Is Crowell hurt or is he a boy in a mans league ? I don’t want to get negative on him but what is the deal ? He comes out hurt in 8 games more than Hershal came out in 3 years. At some point you have to suck it up and get it done or stay on the bench.
Special Teams : F Nothing to say this area of the team is a joke. PLEASE hire a special teams coach.
GO Dawgs
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 31st, 2011
9:35 am
DawginLex
Richt would have gone for the field goal because had Walsh not have missed the other one, that field goal if made would had put the score at 17-9
But since Walsh missed the second one the score was 17-3 still so Richt had no choice
Trust me Richt never goes out of the CONSERVATIVE zone
Phil
October 31st, 2011
9:36 am
Dawg_Mike
“I was in the stands screaming for us to just kick it out of bounds on purpose in the second half.”
I was wondering why didn’t we kick to one side of the field and try to corner up Demps?? Even if it went out of bounds, so what! That would have been better than all the long returns they had. And our defense was stout, I wouldn’t have cared if we kicked it out of bounds. Bad coaching! If we even have any when it comes to special teams that is.
Return to Glory
October 31st, 2011
9:39 am
Bama dog, I have to agree with you. Every SEC team even Vandy covers kickoffs well, usually coming into contact with the ball carrier around the 15-20 yard line. But UGA fails to meet anyone until the 25-30 yard line. Each time we scored I made the comment..oh man now we have to kick off.
Also can we not find some kid in the entire state of Georgia that can kick the ball into or out of the end zone.
Spike 80DF
October 31st, 2011
9:42 am
Good point Bill, those turnovers were definitely caused by big hits.
beanster, I think HS committment Marshall Morgan (K from FL.) is next in line to take over for Walsh next year. Kinda early for this talk but I sure hope Jarvis and Cornelius stick around another year…
beanster
October 31st, 2011
9:44 am
Thomas Brown pointed that out to me as well but it seems like a heckuva a gamble relying on an 18 year old to carry the load. We shall see. Seems like a waste of a scholly on Bogotay if he is put in at this point.
PMC
October 31st, 2011
9:45 am
The backup WR’s whomever they were that Georgia was pulling out of the stands deserve more playing time than Wooten or Troup. They’ve already shown more.
Denverdawg
October 31st, 2011
9:46 am
I loved the way the defense played, they earned all the kudo’s they got. I am thankful for the heart that Samuel showed in his running, very proud of that dawg and the defense.
Spike
October 31st, 2011
9:46 am
Is Muschamp on the hot seat at 0 for October?
Denverdawg
October 31st, 2011
9:47 am
We won en-spite of Bobo and his play calling.
Spike
October 31st, 2011
9:48 am
Where is TampaGator?
AltamahaDawg
October 31st, 2011
9:49 am
The first 4th down attempt had zero to do with walsh and 100% to do with the situation. I was right there and can tell you nobody in that stadium believed the 3 points was going to do any good, even if Muschamps had walked over and conceeded it. Everybody knew we were going for it there.
Walsh had just kicked one ealier and it was a surprise that he had missed the next one. It was not that they feared him missing.
robodawg
October 31st, 2011
9:50 am
Murray’s an interesting QB. He’s inconsistent, but he plays with a lot of heart and is capable of really coming through in the clutch. Definitely hit some clutch passes in this one.
Florida had the ball in our territory in their final three possessions, plenty of chances to jump ahead on the scoreboard, and our defense held them in check every time. The D was really solid and seemed to actually get stronger as the game went on. Not like Boise St when you could tell they were fading.
A great win for the Dawgs.
AltamahaDawg
October 31st, 2011
9:50 am
Bobo called a great game, Denver, what didn’t you like?
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 31st, 2011
9:55 am
AltamahaDawg
You’ll defend everything wont you.
Had Walsh made his kicks it would have been 17-9; that would have put us not that far back and you know good and well Richt would have done that instead of going for it on 4th down messing it up and then been down 17-3. He had no choice in the matter
Tell us why didnt Richt go for it against UCF then
TampaDawg
October 31st, 2011
9:58 am
Paul
October 31st, 2011
9:24 am
UF is a bad team but you dogs go ahead and run that mouth.
———————————-
Considering how much UF fans on here were “run that mouth” BEFORE the game. I think it’s justified. All we heard was “can’t match UF’s speed” or “Brantley’s back so UGA will lose” and my favorite falsehood “Florida always beats Georgia” ..
Now that UGA won, all we hear is “worst UF team in 2 decades” or “we had a one legged QB” .. and the fact is, I DON’T WANT TO HEAR IT. UGA showed up without its best receiver, our best RB was still nursing an injury, 2 of our better defensive players were out the first half, and our kicker is in a FUNK. Just take the loss with class and dignity and if you can’t do that, STAY OFF THE UGA BOARDS TROLLS!
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 31st, 2011
9:59 am
Bobo called a great game
Yea he sure did, I love the Carlton Thomas up the middle plays that he continues to call for no gains PRICELESS!!!!
Or his poor scoring % when we are inside the 30
Or going away from the I-formation when that led to some of the biggest running gains the entire afternoon
JDawg1785
October 31st, 2011
10:02 am
A win in Jacksonville is a win in Jacksonville. I don’t care how ugly it was, the Dawgs came out on top and that’s all that matters.
TampaDawg
October 31st, 2011
10:05 am
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 31st, 2011
9:55 am
AltamahaDawg
You’ll defend everything wont you.
Had Walsh made his kicks it would have been 17-9; that would have put us not that far back and you know good and well Richt would have done that instead of going for it on 4th down messing it up and then been down 17-3. He had no choice in the matter
Tell us why didnt Richt go for it against UCF then
————————-
You do realize that both of the field goals against UCF put Georgia in the lead right? MUCH different situation against UF. Just an observation.
Mobile Dawg
October 31st, 2011
10:07 am
Only thing I didn’t like about the Ogameplan was we continue to waste a down by going long on first. In close games, every down counts, percentages are way to low on the long ball, I hate it. Special teams have cost us one already and almost two more. Got to address that. Anybody that thinks they need to bench Walsh is “not very smart”. He’s going to be a great one in the NFL. He has earned the job and will hopefully right the ship. Kudos to Samuel, DGD. Crowell better grow up, my opinion of him “at this point” is he’s just a pampered bad attitude. That could change, but I would be recruiting the best option for him that I could.
Bottom line, it wasn’t the prettiest win ever but any W over the gators is great. Notice the little G on gators for the rest of this year.
Defense won this game overall, they were solid. Should and I repeat “should” we get to the SECCG hopefully the defense will keep it close.
Over and out, got a ton to do today….Celebrate Dawgs….
Joey
October 31st, 2011
10:10 am
Flat Tire, if Murray had hit those wide-open WRs, the game would have been a rout.
I’m as rough on Bobo as anybody, but it is Murray’s inconsistancy that is killing scoring oportunities.
Thomas up the middle is insane. Agreed.
TampaDawg
October 31st, 2011
10:10 am
Mobile Dawg – “Crowell better grow up, my opinion of him “at this point” is he’s just a pampered bad attitude. That could change, but I would be recruiting the best option for him that I could.”
That is definitely already in the works. That being said, in some small defense of him, coming off an injury he still had over 80 yards splitting carries with a 4.5 ypc.
AltamahaDawg
October 31st, 2011
10:11 am
WEll I don;t know about “defending” I tell it as I see it. You are free to dispute me.
As to your question: Because that UCF gmae was a completely different situation, and he was trying to make a point to his player. As you pointed out, it was a meaningless bowl game. This was not. Is just all 4th down situations the exact same thing in your mind.
Secondly, you need ot straighten out your point. You are mixes up what might have happend in one case to say what did happen in another, and it makes no sence.
Perhaps I should clarify. The fact that Walsh missed one did factor in, so I shouldn’t have said nothing to do with it. It affected the score and the situation. We went for it because were down by 11, and we all knew we were going to, not because we were afraid of Walsh missing again though, which I understood as your original point.
Flo-Ri-Duh
October 31st, 2011
10:12 am
Crowell is a true freshman running behind an OL that has been pieced together with a lot of bakups due to injuries and defections, He is playing hurt and still running hard. You should appreciate that instead of bad mouthing him. Some how I think you critics never played a down of football in your life.
UGA Insider
October 31st, 2011
10:14 am
I told you guys before the season Jarvis Jones would make us forget who Justin Houston ever was.
J.T. Keene
October 31st, 2011
10:16 am
I really don’t care, but it looks to me Cro wellllll likes the ball better when he has a slew of blockers in front of him and a clear path to the goal line. Samuel on the other hand “wanted the ball.” and ran like a S.E.C.tailback should. Hope Richt “loves him a little bit too.”
duronimo
October 31st, 2011
10:17 am
Three or four players demonstrated the level Georgia could play on each week. Jarvis decided he couldn’t be blocked. Bennett and King decided those 4th down passes belonged to them. Samuel believed he was unstoppable at just the right time. Great individual plays by highly recruited players overcame the ugliness. The exception is Grantham. He’s coaching on a higher level than the rest.
AltamahaDawg
October 31st, 2011
10:19 am
SO of the 83 play calls, what you remember were the 2 where Carlton Thomas got the ball and thier defensive line stopped him?
The Grinch
October 31st, 2011
10:21 am
Enter your comments here
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 31st, 2011
10:22 am
Joey
Yes Murray has been inconsistant, I have said that since the SC game. But it is the coaches who need to help his mechanics and timing and they have shown that they have not addressed this because Murray is getting worse each game.
Also watch when Murray throws. He isnt looking for other recievers to see if they are open. He focuses on one reciever only, something he wasnt doing last year
Now he might not do that against New Mexico St because its an easy game but unless these coaches address it I will almost be sure you will see it come time to play Auburn.
Just like the poor tackling and conditioning issues that were finally addressed in coaches being fired
I guess fans will have to call in on the call in show to let Richt know. Funny how when that happens we see changes made
Alabama Dog
October 31st, 2011
10:25 am
TampaDawg: Spot on!!!! NO WAY Richt goes for it on 4th down IF Walsh isn’t slumping. The evidence here is pretty plain to see: the first time they went for it on 4th down, it was in the 1st half, so it wasn’t even close to desperation time. I believe confidence in Walsh has eroded so badly, it caused Richt to do something completely out of character. I honestly hate this for Walsh. up until this year, he was deadly accurate from 40 yards in. Now, it’s a roll of the dice.
Humiliation
October 31st, 2011
10:29 am
I can see it coming now:
LSU 59, UGA 10